All Articles Tagged 'Masters' (13)

Host Phil Naessens pays tribute to legendary play by play announcer Pat Summerall, answers listeners questions about Phil’s seeming lack of love for the game of tennis, how someone can be a guest on the show and looks at all the highs and lows of this weeks Monte Carlo Rolex Masters on this edition of This Week in…

Professional Photographer/Tennis Blogger Craig Doyle joins Phil to discuss recreational drug use on the ATP/WTA Tours, the Shanghai Open and highlight professional tennis players Varvara Lepchenko and Kevin Anderson.

On This Week in Tennis Phil is joined by Professional Photographer/Tennis Blogger Craig Doyle. Please listen in as they discuss Marcos Baghdatis, the WTA’s new grunting policy, the China Open, the Rukaten Japen Open Tennis Championships, the Shanghai Masters and the Weekly Joker Report.

This Week's This Week in Tennis is now available; Professional photographer/tennis blogger Craig Doyle joins Phil to discuss the return of Gael Monfils, the rise of Laura Robson, are tournaments like the Shanghai and Paris Masters are important and who each believe are the 10 greatest male tennis players of all…

Federer has adapted once again to the threats of not only the young guns that could matter. In this category, I could lump together like a bag of stones: Djoko, Soderling, Berdych, Murray. The first three relying more on power and Murray relying on guile and court sense. But in the case of Nadal, he has forged a master strategy, one that I would've advocated from last year.

The increase in aggression after taking Annacone as a coach is dramatic. To win…

...Monfils’ passive and lame-brained approach to tennis will not work against Djokovic tomorrow. In fact, I did not expect it to work today against Stepanek. I am still stunned that it did. Indeed, after watching Djokovic blow Nadal off the court, I left home and went to play tennis myself, confident that I would come home to the news of a Djokovic vs. Stepanek finals. I have… Continue

“If I continue like this I have a very good chance here (at Roland Garros).”

No sh*t, Dinara! Safina has a 14-1 record on clay this season and the added confidence of being World No. 1 and last year’s runner up to the now-ailing Ana Ivanovic. Like Rafael Nadal on the men’s side, I had no trouble filling in Safina’s little section of the French Open draw.

Who knew that 18-time Grand Slam champ, Chris Evert, was such a hard core Fedophile? I’m putting her in the “Historian” category, due to the fact that she also really admires Nadal. Here’s the money quote from her ESPN interview with Bonnie D. Ford (click here for the full article):

“Isn’t there something about Federer that pulls at your heartstrings? I cry every time he loses a match, and I don’t even know the guy. (Laughs) There’s… Continue

Rafael Nadal has changed his not-so-sweet tune about this week’s Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open. After complaining about the court surface, the schedule and the general disorder around the tournament a few days ago, Nadal is now heaping on the praise, saying stuff like, “It’s special to play in Spain and in Madrid. And this year is no exception.”

David Ferrer was asked at the Madrid Open about Federer’s chances against Rafa and had this to say (in Spanish):

“Roger Federer has sufficient tennis to beat Rafa Nadal. He can do it, but it’s very complicated. Rafa is the indisputable number one on clay and in the world, but most of all on clay. Also it was said that Roger was unbeatable on grass and Nadal beat him. For me Rafa is the number one and is very difficult to beat him on clay and… Continue

Maria Sharapova is finally ready to return to competition, and she’s positively GUSHING with excitement (as are we, right?) Here’s the latest from her website:

“I am very happy to report that I will make my singles return to the tour in Warsaw, Poland, the week of May 18. Although it has not been an easy process these last few months, I really believe it’s made me a much stronger person in so many areas of my life professionally and… Continue

Roger Federer spoke to the press in Madrid on Sunday and was brimming with optimism about his chances at the Madrid Open and for the rest of the season. Roger said that he knows he can beat Nadal on clay, despite the head-to-head, and that his main goals for the year are winning Roland Garros and Wimbledon. He also mentioned that he isn’t actively searching for a new coach, but is always “open” for solid advice on ways to improve his… Continue

Rafael Nadal may be Spanish and the King of Clay, but he is none too happy about this week’s clay court Masters event in Madrid. The Age recently provided the full laundry list of Nadal’s complaints (click here for the original article):

- On the altitude: “(It’s) a serious problem so close to Paris. It would be better if Rome were the last event before Paris since the altitudes are similar.”